Flush car-door.



PATENTBD MAR. 1'2, 1907.

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{mesa-ses ATTY SE.v

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UNITED sTATIas PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD MOBLEY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO REPUBLICRAILWAY APPLIANCE COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A

CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FLuAsH CAR-Doon.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 12, 1907.

To all Loh/m it mar/concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD MOBLEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have i'nvented acertain new and useful Improvement in Flush Car-Doors, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it app ertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of aportion of a box-car, showing my improved'door and its operatingmechanism in position thereon. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the hangerrail or track. Fig 3 is a detail view of the locking mechanismfor thelower edge of the door. liig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4 4 ofFig. 1. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 isasimilar view showing the parts in a different position.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of one of the hangerparts which is secured tothe door. Fig. S is a detail view of the hanger part which carries theroller. Fig. 9 is a detail view of the wedge cooperating with theinclined faces of said hanger parts, and Iiig. 10 is a cross-sectionalview o n the line 10 10 of Iiig. 6. big. 11 is a plan view of thebracket-keeper, showing the arrangement of the cam-face thereof.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in flushcar-doors, the object being to construct the Xtures which are mountedupon the flush door in such manner that the door will be positivelylocked in its cliosed position both at its upper and lower e ges.

-Another object is to simplify the construction of these fixtures so asto reduce their cost of manufacture, rendering them durable in serviceand practically waterproof.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the construction,arrangement, and combination of the several parts, all as will behereinafter described and afterward pointed out in the claims.

coperates with a rail or track 4, secured to the side wall of the carabove the doorway.

The forward end of this track recedes toward rear edge of the door isprovided withiix-` tures for moving said edge laterally into and out ofthe door-opening, the closed position of the door being that in whichthe door is iiush with the side wall of the car, as shown in Fig. 5.

6 indicates a bracket secured to the carwall adjacent the lower rearcorner of the door, with which cooperates a locking-wedge 7, carried onthe lower end of an operatinghandle 8, pivoted upon the door. Bracket 6,as shown in Fig. 11, has its vertical wall inclined or obliquelyarranged with respect to the side wall of the car, so that when thewedge-block 7 coperates therewith said wedge-block as it moves alongsaid inclined or cam face to its home position forces the rear loweredge of the door securely home. This locking-wedge is provided with apivoted member 9 having a depending perforated flange designed in theclosed position of the door to drop behind the rear strengthening web ofthe bracket 6, which web is provided with an opening, and through thesei openings the seal-wire 10 is designed to pass,

as shown inlliig. 3.

The upper eni of the operating-handle of this locking-wedge is pivotedat 8a to the car-door in a suitable bearing, which bearing is providedwith a curved extension 11, serving as a keeper for said handle.Connected to the handle near its pivotal point is a rod 12, which whenthe handle is swung to the left in Fig. 1 is moved downwardly, and whensaid handle is moved into engagement with the bracket 6 said rod 12 ismoved upwardly. The lower edge of the door is provided with a handhold13, which is designed to be grasped by the operator for the purpose ofobtaining a purchase on the door 'to better enable the operation of thelocking-wedge handle 8, said handle moving toward the said handhold inthe opening position of the door and away from said handhold in theclosing position, both the handhold and said handle being in convenientreach of the operator. 4

The upper end ofrod 12 carries a double- IOO IOS

inclined wedge-block 14, which, as shown in Fig. 9, extends on each sideof the rod. This wedge-block operates between the companion parts of aroller-hanger, one of which, 15, is provided with an opening in itslower end wall for the passage of the upper end of rod 12, whereby saidrod 12 is guided in its vertical movement. This lower end wall isperforated, as shown in Fig. 7, to receive a pivotpin, whereby thecompanion part 16 of the hanger is pivotally connected to the part 15.The upper end of the hanger part 16 is provided with an inwardlyextending hoodfiange serving as a guard for the hanger-roller 17,mounted in a suitable boss, said roller having a flange coperating withthe track 4, upon which the periphery of said roller rides, as shown inFigs. 5 and 6.

The parts 15 and 16 are preferably made of malleable iron, and each ofsaid parts is provided with inclined faces for coperating with thewedge-block 14, as follows: The hanger part 15 is provided with aninclined face 15a at its upper portion, and the hanger part 16 isprovided with an inclined face 16a opposite the face 15a, said facesbeing appropriately recessed so as to interlock when the hanger is inthe position shown in Fig. -to wit, the parts of the hanger aresubstantially parallel and the door open-so that both of said inclinedfaces 15"L and 16a will have an extended bearing on the upper inclinedfaces 14a of the wedge-block. The function of these inclined faces 15aand 16a is to coperate with the oppositely-inclined faces 14a of thewedge-block, so that when said wedgeblock is forced upwardly, as shownin Fig. 5, the upper parts of the hanger are spread,

' forcing the upper edge of the door 2 in- Vwardly in the door-opening.The hanger part 16 being suspended by its roller from the track 4 movesupon the track as a lever of the second order, causing part 16 and itsroller to tilt, as shown in Fig. 5. Being pivotally connected to thedoor at a point near its upper edge through the part 15, the upper edgeof the door is forced inwardly to its closed position. There is a stop18 on the part 16 to limit the upward movement of the wedge-block 14,and the part 16 is cut away above the stop to accommodate the rail 4 andpermit the inward swing of the part 16 in the closing movement of thedoor.

In order to accommodate the displacement of the wedge-block 14 due tothe closing door and the movement of the parts above described, I preferto provide a pivotal joint 19in the rod 12.

15b indicate inclined faces on the part 15, which are formed onhook-like extensions, said facesl coperating with oppositely-inclinedfaces 16b on similar extensions of the part 16, these inclined faces 15band 1Gb cooperating with the oppositely-inclined faces 14b of thewedge-block. The upper ends of the hook-like extensions so coperate withthe faces 14D that they at no time are disengaged from said faces, thestop 18 preventing such a vertical movement ofthe wedge-block in anupward direction as would cause said 'wedge-block to pass from betweenthe faces 15b and 16h. The inclination of the faces 16*l and 15b and 15aand 16b is such that when cooperating with the inclined faces of thewedge-block 14 there is a sufficient amount of play to permit the freemovement of the wedge-block without interference from the idle faces 5but this clearance is preferably not such as to amount to anyconsiderable lost play, as the pivotal connection between the rod 12 andthe operating-handle 8 is such that but a limited amount of throw lisimparted to the rod 12, and this throw must 'be sufficient when in anupward direction to cause the wedge-block to spread the parts 15 and 16sumciently to force the door tightly.. in its opening, the downwardthrow drawing said parts together, as shown in Fig. L6, so as to insurethe door clearing the side wa'll of the car when moved along itssupporting track or rail.

`From the above construction it will be observed that I dispense withthe use of leverjoints and other moving parts which are liable to bindor cr-amp in movement, my improved wedge action being positive andexerting considerable force not only in the closing but in the openingmovement of the door. The closing movement of the door occurs as thewedge moves upwardly and 'is thus located at a point with respect to thefulcrum and resistance of the part '16 that sufficient power can beexerted upon the door to insure its home position. The opening movementresulting from the downward TOO stroke of the wedge-block also insures av fully-open position of the door, gravity assisting the parts inmaintaining this-openposition.

It is obvious that to swing the door to its extreme outer position, asshown in Fig. 6, the handle 8 will be operated to the left from theposition shown in 1 ig. 1. This handle is held in this position whilethe door is moved on the track-rail 4, so as to give access to thedoorway, and when the door is fully opened the handle 8 is released. Thelocking-wedge on the end of the handle serves as a Weight to force therod 12 upwardly, and in so doing the wedge-block 14 exerts a constanttendency to force the door inwardly, thus assisting gravity in causingdoor to impinge against the side wall of the car. This is an importantfeature, I consider, because when the door is open the switchingof thecar has a tendency to cause the door to move along the track-rail, andthis tendency is overcome by the impingement of the door against theside wall of the car.

I am aware that minor changes in the con- IIO struction, arrangement,and combination of the several parts of my device can be made andsubstituted for those herein shown and described without in the leastdeparting from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, `is- 1. In a flush car-door, thecombination with a bracket-keeper having an inclined or cam face, saidkeeper being secured to the side wall of the car near the lower rearedge of the door-opening, a lever mounted on the door and swinging in aplane parallel to the face thereof, said lever being provided with alocking-wedge coperating with the inclined or cam face of said keeper, arollerhanger pivotally connected to the upper rear edge of the door andsuspending said door from the track-rail arranged on the side wall ofthe car, and means for connecting the said lever and for coperating withthe said rollerhanger for moving the rear edge of the door inwardly intoits opening; substantially as described.

2. In a flush car-door, the combination with a bracket-keeper having aninclined or cam face, said bracket-keeper being secured to the side wallof the car adjacent the rear lower edge of the door-opening, a leverpivotally mounted on the cardoor and movable in a plane parallel to theface thereof, said lever being provided with a locking-wedge coperatingwith the inclined or cam face of said keeper, a pivoted part carried bysaid lever and having an opening designed to register with an opening inthe bracket-keeper for the passage of a seal-wire, a roller-hangerpivotally connected to the upper rear edge of the door for suspendingthe door from the track-rail, means operating between said roller-hangerand the upper rear edge of the door for moving said door inwardly andoutwardly, and a connection between said lever and said means;substantially as described.

3. In a flush car-door, the combination with the door, ofvertically-operable means for mov ing the upper rear edge of the doorinto and out of its opening, and means movable in a plane parallel tothe face of the door for wedging the lower edge of the door in place,said wedging means being operatively connected to said first-mentionedmeans; substantially as described.

4. The combination with a car-door, of a hanger mounted upon the upperrear edge thereof, said hanger comprising two parts pivotally connectedtogether,` one of said parts being mounted upon the door and the otherof said parts carrying a roller, a wedgeblock operating between saidparts for opening and closing them, a bracket-keeper on the side wall ofthe car adjacent the rear edge of the door-opening, said bracketkeeperhaving an inclined or cam face and a leverconnected to said wedge-blockand carrying a locking-wedge for coperating with the inclined or camface of said keeper substantially as described.

5. The combination with a car-door, of a hanger part secured thereto, acompanion hanger part pivotally connected to the firstmentioned part andcarrying a roller at its upper end, said hanger parts each beingprovided with oppositely-inclined.faces 15a 15b, and 16a 1Gb,respectively, and a wedge-block having oppositely-inclined faces 14a 14hfor coperating therewith; substantially as described.

6. A hanger for flush car-doors comprising a door part and a roller partpivotally connected together at their lower ends and each havinginclined faces 15a 15b, and 16fL 16h, respectively, and a wedge-blockarranged between and coperating with said inclined faces 5 substantiallyas described.

7. A hanger for Hush car-doors comprising a door part and a roller ortrack part, each having oppositely-inclined faces 15a 15b, and 16a 16h,respectively, awedge-block arranged between and coperating with saidinclined faces, and means for operating said wedgeblock, said meanscomprising in part a rod having a joint in its length to accommodate thelateral movement of the wedge-block; substantially as described.

8. A hanger for flush car-doors comprising a door part 15 havinginclined faces 15a and 15b, a roller part 16 carrying a flanged rollerat its upper end, which roller is designed to roll on a track, said part16 being pivotally connected at its lower end to the part 15 and havinginclined faces 167L and 16h, and a wedge-block operating within andbetween the parts 15 and 16, said wedge-block having inclined faces 14;afor coperating with the inclined faces 15a and 16a, and said wedgeblockalso having inclined faces 141b for co operating with inclined faces 15band 16h; substantially as described.

9. A hanger for flush car-doors comprising a door part and a roller partpivotally connected together, means for swinging said parts on theirpivotal connection, and a gravitating device mounted on the car-door andmoving in a plane parallel to the. face of said door, said gravitatingdevice coperating with said means and exerting an energy on said partstending to cause the door to impinge against the side wall of the carwhen in its fully-open position; substantially as described. v

10. The combination with a car-door, of a hanger comprising a door partand a roller part pivotally connected together, and each having inclinedfaces, a wedge-block coperating with said inclined faces to move thedoor IlO laterally, a lever connected to said wedgebloel, alocking-wedge on said lever forming a weighted end thereof and abracket-keeper having an inclined or earn face, said bracketlreeperbeing secured to the side wall of the ear adjacent the lower rear edgeof the dooropening and designed to Coperate with the looking-wedge whenthe door is opposite its opening for wedging the lower rear edge of

